Strip metering device for multiple row ruffle sewing machine



Se t. 19, 1961 v. J. SIGODA 3,000,332

STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ROW RUFFLE SEWING MACHINE Filed July 2'7, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N \o g 0 E S- 1 m IN VEN TOR.

l mroQ J. SIGODA Sept. 19, 1961 v. J. SIGODA 3,000,332

STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ROW RUFFLE SEWING MACHINE Filed July 27. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Vlcroe J 5 6004 Sept. 19, 1961 v. J. SIGODA 3,000,332

STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ROW RUFFLE SEWING MACHINE Filed July 27. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

I/ICT'O/f J. 5 6004 v. J. SIGODA Sept. 19, 1961 STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ROW RUFFLE SEWING MACHINE Filed July 27. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W PI INVENTOR. l/lcroe J. SIGODA & (9

,4 rrop/vsy Sept. 19, 1961 J. SIGODA STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ROW RUFFLE' SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 27, 1959 W di-rogue INV EN TOR.

Marc J 51600 'STRIP METERING DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE .1. ROW RUFFLE SEWING MACHINE r Victor J. Sigoda, Great Neck, N.Y., assignor to Man-Sew Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New 7 York Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,698

12 Claims. (Cl. 112-132) nied Sate, Pete- O 'fabric strip to a base material, difiiculty is encountered in maintaining uniformity between succeedingruflles. If the tension exerted on the supply from which the strip is drawn varies as the rufiiing proceeds, the ruflies produced 'are uneven in length, and occasionally even disappear.

This latter defect occurs when the strip becomes snagged or when the strip pulls off the supply reel under too much tension.

The tension normally exerted on any portion ofa strip 'a s it leaves its supply reel depends upon how much of .the strip'is left on the reel.

ldjepleted and the diameter of the remainder of the supplyjon the reel diminishes, tension exerted on the strip is increased, I

'f' "Ihis'problem becomes considerably aggravated when ,m'ultiple rows of milling are produced. a Not only is the fproblem of obtaining uniformity between succeeding "fifties-in each row encountered, 'butin addition, the fact that. the rows of ruflies are-viewed side. by side, makes [more pronounced the unpleasing visual effect as non- "uniformity between adjacent rows of rufiles is noted.

, -Inaddition to the changing tension exerted. on each strip asthe individual supply reel changes size, additional "changes in tension are encountered because no two sup- .ply'reels are furnished with the same amount of lace or fabric strip. There are also differences because of variations in internal tensions left in each strip because dif- "ferent supply reels may have been produced on different "looms or may have been produced under ditterent operating conditions or at different times.

"that contributes to non-uniformity of tension on each supply of 'lace or fabric strip is the dilference in the friction experienced by each individual strip as it passes over intermediate surfaces such as the various guides used between the supply reels and the sewing machine.

It is evident that if pleasingly uniform results are to be obtained, uniformity of tensions for each strip supply must be maintained. Accordingly, it has been a main object to provide means whereby the non-uniformity of tensions between adjacent strip supplies may be eliminated by providing a positively acting mechanism which ensures constancy of feed of each strip for rufiiing. The device which is the subject of this application in effect acts as a metering device to measure out precise amounts of strip or lace for each individual rufie in each line of milling, and by keeping this amount constant regardless of the varying tensions described, continuous production of a pleasingly uniform product results. This has been accomplished mainly by keying the strip material feed out to each ruffling stroke of the pusher blades.

" In the rufiiing mechanism utilized, the pusher blades are operated in tandem by a single oscillating shaft whose range of oscillation may be adjusted to provide different lengths of ruflie. By operating the device from this shaft,

, the amount of material fed from each strip supply for Generally, as thesupply is Another factor 2 each row of ruflles is kept proportional to the amount of rufile and this obviates the need for adjustment to maintain the proper ratio. It has been found however, that in use, it is desirable to provide a slight amount of drag 'on'each supply of strip for each row of rufiiing. This removes the residual remnants of stretch in each strip and therefore contributes to the pleasing end result. The drag is provided by adjusting the amount of material fed from each strip supply so that it is just slightly less than that which seems to be needed for each individual rufiie of a given length. It has accordingly been a further object to provide means for adjusting the amount of strip made available from each supply and this has been done by making it possible to vary the length of the stroke which actuates the device to measure off the strip for each ruflle.

The arrangement generally The basic sewing machine illustrated herein is a standard industrial type two thread chainstitch machine known commercially as the Union Special Model 54400. In

U.S. Patent No. 2,688,293, of September 7, 1954, to Hayes and Virta, there is shown a similar machine, one of a family of machines produced by this same manufacturer,

which is known as its Model 54200. That'machine is a multiple needle two thread chainstitch machine similar in all pertinent respects to the machine illustrated herein.

In U.S. Patent No. 2,792,797, to Hayes and Reimer, there rocked in line with the feed, and a series of spreaders which are reciprocated in unison across the line of feed,

.each of while intercepts its respective looper thread to 'form' a thread trianglefor subsequent entry of the corresponding needle which forms the particular rowofsitching. Further details concerning the constructio-nxa-nd operation of such aspects of the machine shown herein may be obtained by referring to that patent. The machine illustrated is typical of multiple row double chainstitch machines with which the invention to be subsequently described may be used. Other multiple row sewing machines of the same manufacturer or of other manufacturers may be utilized however, if they have been provided with appropriate mechanism for producing rufiiing in adjacent rows. i

The sewing machine mentioned has been adapted to produce multiple rows of stitched ruffles by the addition of an attachment known in the trade as the Man-Sew Ruflier. The rufliing attachment shown herein is generally similar to that disclosed in Sigoda U.S. Patent No. 2,533,291 of December 12, 1950.

In that patent, the attachment disclosed is that of a single bladed, or single row producing rufiiing device. The instant device differs in showing a variation which produces multiple rows, in this case, five adjacent rows of rufiies.

Power take-elf for operation of'this rufding device is obtained from the sewing machine illustrated. In the Hayes and Reimer Patent No. 2,792,797, there is shown in FIG. 3 means for driving the zigzag operating mechanism from the mainshaft of the machine, and in FIG. 23, means for operating a top puller. Both of these are driven from main drive shaft 14 which carries gear for this purpose. This gear arrangement is usedwtoiprovide a power take-off for the instant rufiling mechanism, and ultimately for the novel strip metering device.

The strip metering device which accurately feeds out a predetermined amount of strip for each line of milling, is in the form of an attachment added to the combined basic sewing machine and attachment and mounted in a position just in advance of the milling action. It consists of a pair of longitudinally serrated rollers between which the separate fabric 'or lace strips are fed, .side by side, the rollers being driven from the same shaft which oscillates the rufiling blades in an intermittent one way movement, the amount of which can be selected and .maintained constant for each .rufiiin'g stroke of the pusher :blades. Being gripped between the rollers, the fabric strips are p sitively :fed the desired amount .for each rufliing -strokeregardless of the tensions previously exerted either by the intervening surfaces or by the supply reels.

. The lowermost roller is positively driven by a one way clutch or other ratcheting means by a linkage which re- .ceives its movement froma lever which is rocked by the same rockshaft as that which oscillates the rutfling blades. The upper roller is kept in engagement with the lower roller through the material of the fabric strips and because of complementary serrations, moves in unison with the driven roller. Mechanism is provided which permits adjustment of the stroke of the linkage which operates the one way clutch. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of movement of the feed rollers when a retard effect is desired which is particularly useful feeding stretchy fabrics or laces, and particularly elastic strips.

sewing machine indicated in outline, showing the ruflling attachment and the strip metering attachment mounted on the sewing machine;

FIG. 2 is "a front elevational'view of the 'machinewi'th the attachments mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is an end 'elevationalvie'w of the mac'hine'and the "attachments taken from the end opposite to that shown'in FIG. 1, with a cover plate for the rufiling attachment removed to show the mechanism which oscil- -la'tes the miller blade -operating shaft;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, "with the rufiier h'ousingcasting partly insection taken on line -4--4 of FIG. 3 and with "portions of the sewing machine indicated in outline, showing the intermediate mechanism for oscillating the miller *blade shaft and the driving connection for operating the strip metering device;

. .FIG. -5 is 'a plan view, in section taken on line 5-5"of .FIG. 1 showing the power takeoff from the sewing machine for operating the rufliing attachment;

FIG. 6 is 'a-sectional view, in elevation, taken on line -6-6 of FIG. 5, also showing the power takeoff for the ruffiing mechanism andin addition showing the mechanism for converting; the rotary motion of the main drive "shaft of the sewing machine to the oscillating motion for the Iufie forming stroke of the ruflling blades;

FIG. 7 is a'detail view,-in"section taken on line 77 --of FIG. 1, showing 'thedriving connection for the strip metering attachment from the 'rufiier blade operating shaft;

FIG. 8 is a detail view, in elevation, ta-lcen from the hand wheel end 'of the machine, also'showing the driving connection between the strip'metering device and the 'rufller blade operating shaft, and more particularly, the channelled drive bar clamped to the rufiierbla'de operating sh'aft, the block retained in the channel 'of the drive bar, the linked universal ball joint rodendbearings, end-the one way'clutch; a FIG. 9 isadetail view, in section taken on line 9-'-9 of FIG. 8, "showing how the block is retained in the '7 g-ofQFIG. 2 showing the operating clutchg and channel 0f the drive bar; 7

FIG 10 is a detail view, in section taken on line iii-19 parts of the one way g r ebanese T in e had to the gear numbered 46 therein.

FIG. 11 is a detail view, in outline, showing the shape of the single and double portion rufiiing blades used in forming five rows of ruflles.

The sewing machine Thesewing machine comprises a frame having a work supporting basejpo'rtion .10, a vertical standard 12 rising from one end of .the base and an overhanging arm 14'exfendinglaterallyufrom the upperend of'the standard. A

main drive shaft lsextends longitudinally of thebase 10 and is journalled in :suitable bearings provided therein. It projects outwardly -from the frame at the right hand end thereof and carries at its outer end a combined handwheel and pulley 16. On the free end of arm 14, a needle guide head 17 carries 'a'needle bar 18. hiechanism is provided in arm 14 connecting with the main drive shaft 15 through intermediate mechanism for vertically reciprocating the needle bar 18. This mechanism is conventional -and further details with respect thereto may be obtained byreference to either of said U.S. 'Pat- 'ents 'NO.'2,688,'299 and 2,792,797.

portingsurface of the base 10. Beneath the throat plate,

conventional mechanism is provided for moving the usual 'four'mot'ion feed do gthr'ough the throat plate to cooperate with the presser foot 21 to advance the work for the stitching. Also beneath the throat plate, mechanism'is provided for oscillating in line with the feed action a series ofthreaded loopers, and for reciprocating across the line'of feed 'actionaseries of Spreaders, both of which cooperate-with the threaded needles 19 to form five separate rows of two thread chainstitches in the work.

'These mechanisms'are also shown and fully described in saidU.S. Patent No. 2,688,293.

As shown in the lower'nght hand portion of FIG. 3

o'fsaidPatent No.'2',792,797, at the rear .of base 10 under the standard 12, there is "an opening covered by an unnumbered rectangular plate, through which access may be 7 As shown in that view, gear 46 is utilized to power the zigzag forming mechanism, and as "shown in FIG. 23 of that patent, the same gear is used to drive a top roller feed'mechanism.

'In the instant case, the same gear, numbered 43a herein,

is utilized to drive the'rufller operating mechanism.

The rufiiing attachment The .rufiiing mechanism of the present invention .is carilledby ahousing structure comprising anintegral cast- .ing having an elongated portion 30 adapted to extend separating arm 32 from'part 30.

. At the opposite end o'fppart 30, the casting is formed withare'ctangularly shaped, downwardly projecting, hol low.mounting arm lid-terminating at its lower .end in a squared-off section 38. Section 38 is adapted tofit about the opening 40 in the base 13 of the machine and tobe rigidly secured thereto by means of bolts indicated at 52.

*Arm '36 at its lower end is formed with a rectangularly downwardly projecting relation therefrom. -nel of this arm, a rectangular block 76 is slidably mount- .ed. The block carries a pivot stud 78 having a tapped bore, which extends through the slot 82 in a lever 80.

the back of arm 36 to an opening 41 in the squared-off section 38. This opening lines up with opening 40 in the base of the machine when the casting is mounted on the machine.

In this oflfset recess 39, a rectangularly shaped support block 42 is mounted and secured. A stud mounted in this block supports a non-metallic spur gear 43b which meshes with the previously mentioned gear 43a when the housing casting is mounted on the machine. A second stud mounted in block 42 carries a mating gear 430 in mesh with gear 43b. Gear 43a and gear 430 are of the same diameter, while the gear 43b is of larger diameter, and merely acts as a transfer gear. Hence gears 43a and 43c rotate at the same rate.

Eccentric block 56 is fixed to gear 43c and therefore rotates with it. A' tapped hole is provided in block 56 at 'a selected distance off center to provide a desired amount of eccentric action. Pitman 60 carries an anti-friction bearing in its lower large end 62 and through the bore of this bearing, pitman 60 is pivotally connected with block 56 by cap screw 57 which is threaded into the tapped hole in block 56 to act as an eccentric stud. Pitman 60 is pivotally connected at its upper end to crank arm 64 suitably fixed to rock shaft 46. It will therefore be apparent that, in the rotation of main drive shaft 15 of the machine, eccentric 56 and pitman 60 transmit a rocking or oscillating motion to the shaft 46.

At its other end, shaft 46 is mounted in a bearing sleeve .68 suitably fixed in a boss 70 on the inner side wall of the housing arm 36. Collar 72 adjacent bearing 48 fixes shaft 46 in the desired longitudinal position.

Within the housing arm 32, a channelled guide arm 74 is rigidly fixed in any suitable manner to the end of shaft 46 to extend diametrically across the shaft end and in In the chan- Preferably, this lever comprises two sections separably connected by means of the screws indicated at 84. The upper lever section provided with slot 82 has an upwardly curved upper end portion 86, in which the upper closed end of slot 82 terminates, so that in one position of the block 76 said end of the slot and the pivot stud 78 are in coaxial relation with the shaft 46. The lower section of lever 8|) is rigidly clamped or otherwise fixed to the inner end of shaft 88 journalled in a suitable bearing in the boss 90 formed on the outer'side wall of h using arm 32 at its lower forward end.

Shaft 88 in this disclosure is considerably longer than the corresponding shaft of the attachment shown in Sigoda Patent No. 2,533,291 because instead of carrying one rufiling blade, this shaft carries five. Because of the increased length, it is desirable to provide an additional bearing support for the extreme left hand end of shaft 88,

and this is provided in an outrigger support plate used with the strip metering device.

To operate five or six rufliing blades requires only three downwardly extending arms 92, each of which is secured to shaft 88 through a clamp block 93. These .blocks are provided with split clamp portions at their upper'ends which are adapted to fit around and to be tightened about shaft 88, and with downwardly extending channelled portions into'which arms92 may be redouble portion 96' milling blade may be secured to each of the blade holders 95.- These blades are shaped somewhat differently as shown in FIG. 11. In the double blade version 96, the ruflle forming portions are separated so that each may act only on one of the adjacent rows of fabric strip. Each blade holder 95 is urged downvardly by its own spring 98 which keeps either a single or double ruflling blade, as the case may be, in operative engagement with the fabric to be rufiied. 1

In the attachment of the patent mentioned, the fabric to be ruflled is held between the serrated rufflin-g blade end and a ruflling plate which is designated as 100. Because of space limitations, this plate in this disclosure takes a diflerent form. The individual rows of ruflies are fed through separate strip guides or channels 99, which are secured to each other, as by soldering, to form a single guide member having as many separate channels as there are strips to be ruflied. The bottom walls of each of these individual strip guides are extended beyond the lowermost openings of the guides, and these extensions form a single fixed toothed plate 10-0. The base fabric material is intermittently fed by the feed dog beneath plate 100 and under the presser foot.

Projecting within housing arm 32 is a second rock shaft which is suitably journalled in bearing bosses. on the inner wall of housing arm 32 and the opposite end of portion 36 of the housing casting. Within thehousing arm 32, a downwardly projecting crank am 126 is secured to rock shaft 120 and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected by link 128 with a screw 130 threaded into the tapped bore of stud 78 on the block 76.. Preferably a spacing washer 132 is interposed between the end of link 128 and lever 80.

As shown in more detail in said Sigoda Patent No. 2,533,291, rock shaft 120 is yieldably urged in one direction by the torsion spring 134 surrounding said shaft and fixed at one of its ends to an arm 136 secured to the: shaft and bearing at its other end against a projection on the inner wall of the housing. This spring tends to rotate shaft 126 in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3 herein, and thus holds slide block 76 in a neutral coaxial position relative to shaft 46.

T o the other end of rock shaft 120, externally of part 36 of the housing casting, an upwardly extending member 138 of wish-bone form is secured, as seen in FIG. 1i herein. In each boss on the end of each arm of member 138 screws 140 and 142 are respectively adjustably threaded. Between said arms, a stop block 144 is se-- cured to the end Wall of part 36 of the housing by screws 146.

Within the lower open side of the housing part 34', a lever is rigidly secured to shaft 120 and extends rearwardly therefrom and beyond the wall of the housing. To the latter end of said lever suitable manually operable: means such as a foot treadle is adapted to be connected. to oscillate shaft 120 in a counterclockwise direction. against the resistance of spring 134.

In mounting the attachment, arm 36 of the housing structure is fitted against machine base 10 about open-- ing 40 therein to position the housing arm 32 beneath the machine arm 14 with therufiiing blades 96 and 96' in accurately superposed relation with plate 100. The attaching screws 52 are then tightened to rigidly fix the housing structure in its mounted position. The eccentric actuated pitman 60 is then connected with crank arm 64 on shaft 46.

Assuming that screw 140 is in contact with stop block 144, and that slide block 76 is in its neutral position in arm 74, screw 142 is now adjusted in accordance with the desired predetermined depth of ruflle to be formed by the blades. Upon downward movement of the external lever secured to shaft 120, shaft 120 is rocked in counterclockwise direction, and through link 128, slide block 76 is moved downwardly in the channel of guide arm 74 away from the axis of shaft 46 until screw 142 contacts stop block 144. Despite this adjustment, pivot stud 78 -'tln'o w of the ruil'iingblades may be varied by adjustment 'tion of its needle 19 to'be stitched to the base fabric.

Operation of the rufiiing mechanism may be discontinued at any time when the ruffling blades are in retracted position by releasing the external lever secured to shaft 120, whereupon spring 134 rocks the shaft 120 in clockwise direction and moves the slide block 76 upwardly in the arm 74 to position the stud 78 in the upper 'curved end of slot 82 in lever 80 and in coaxial relation with the shaft '46, at which time screw 140 carried by member 138 is engaged with stop block 144. Thus, in the continued actuation of rock shaft 46 by eccentric 56, no

oscillating motion will be transmitted to lever 88, so that reciprocating movement of the ruffling blades 96 is discontinued.

Further details concerning the construction and operation of the rufiiing attachment may be obtained by reference to said Sigoda Patent No. 2,533,291.

The strip metering device Guide head 17 is normally closed off by a cover plate numbered 28 (FIG. 3) in said Patent No. 2,688,293,

which provides access to the operating mechanism in the guide head. A modified substitute plate 151'replaces this cover plate when the strip metering device is added to the instant ruifle sewing machine combination. The substitute plate 151 furnishes one support for the additional mechanism which is added, and this plate is provided with counterbored clearance holes for the mounting bolts which normally secure the original plate to the guide head. In addition, plate 151 is formed with two mounting bosses .152 which are drilled and tapped. and with a series of three spacing bosses 153 which are disposed vertically and forwardly of the mounting bosses.

A support bracket 154, provided with a pair of care 155 which are drilled and counterbored, is secured to substitute plate 151, by cap screws 156 fitting through ears 155 and threaded into the bosses 152, with the inner face of bracket 154 bearing against the milled top surfaces of bosses 153; A second support bracket 158 is secured to boss 90 of the housing casting by its split lclamp portion 159. Brackets 154 and 158 are tied together by a rod 160 which fits in corresponding bores in the support brackets, and holds the brackets in the proper horizontally spaced relationship when the brackets are assembled to the plate 151 and the housing casting 30. The ends of the tie rod are held in said bores by set screws threaded into cross drilled and tapped holes.

When so assembled, the brackets provide support for a pair .of longitudinally serrated rollers, 165 and 166, and also for a bearing for the ruffler operating shaft 88,

as previously mentioned. Roller 165 is fixed to a shaft Plate .162 which is journalled in corresponding, in line, hushed bores in each of the brackets. Bracket 158 has an additional boss 161 which extends a substantial distance to the right, as the machinev is viewed in .FIG. 2, and through a hushed bore in which shaft 162 extends. To

the end of shaft 162 which extends through this boss, the .inner bore'of a one way, step-by-step, clutch assembly 168 is fixed, preferably with 'a spacing washer disposed between the end of boss 161 and the side of the clutch assembly.

Above, the bores in. the brackets for shaft 162, a sec- ;ond pair ofcorresponding, in line, bores is provided for n shaft 169; which is, fixed at eachof its ends in a bore 8 in each of the brackets. This shaft supports a pair of figure 8-shaped arms 170 each of which is pivotally mounted thereon near one of the support brackets, and each of which is provided with a bushed bore for shaft 171 which supports the upper roller 166 between the arms 170.

This arrangement permits the upper roller to be swung out of engagement with the lower roller by moving the upper roller upwardly about shaft 169 as indicated in FIG. 3. Shaft 169 is retained in the support brackets by set screws threaded into the top edge of each bracket 154 and 158, and the shaft retaining screw in the top of bracket 154 also supports a bent Wire stop 174 which serves to limit the extent of upward displacement of roller 166. a

An adjustable strip guide assembly is supported on bracket 154 in a slot milled vertically near its top. This assembly consists of a double offset bar 172 which provides a support for a strip guide 173 above the rollers, parallel to the base 10. This bar is slotted for bolts which secure the strip guide 173 to the bar in a suitably selected position so that the fabric or lace strips passing through the guide to the rollers from the supply reels will be suitably positioned to enter the proper channels in the bottom strip guide mounted on plate 100.

Bottom roller 165 is operated from the miller blade oscillating shaft 88. Shaft 88 extends through housing arm 32 to the right as seen in FIGS. 2 and 7, and to this extension, a T-channelled arm 175 is fixed by its clamp portion 176 to extend diametrically across shaft 88 in an upwardly projecting attitude. In the channel of arm 175, a rectangular block 178 is fixed in a position selected to provide the desired amount of feed of the strip for each rufi le forming stroke. Block 178 is bored and. threaded to receive a bolt 179 which passes through the bore of the ball of a universal ball joint rod end bearing 180. When belt 179 is tightened, a washer interposed between the outer face of arm 175 and the ball of the rod end bearing 180 clamps block 178 in the selected position away from shaft 88. It is apparent that block 178 may readily be repositioned at any selected distance from almost the very axis of rotation of shaft 88, and that the rod end bearing 180 will therefore be given a greater or lesser swing for each oscillation of shaft 88.

A second rod end bearing 181 linked to the first, is fixed to the outer housing of the one-way clutch assembly 168 by a bolt 182 which passes through the ball of this second rod end hearing. The construction of this clutch assembly which is shown in section in FIG. 10, is conventional, and is in all pertinent respects similar to that shown in FIGS. 27 and '28 of Patent No. 2,792,797. This clutch is merely representative of a class of motion translating mechanisms which may be used to provide the required step-by-step, one-way rotation of the rollers 165 and 166 from the oscillations of the miller blade operating shaft 88. j h

It is thought that no summation of the'operation of the combined devices is necessary because of the description of the operation of specific portions of the combination in various places in this specification. Nor is it thought necessary to enlargeupon the proper preparation and operation of the sewing machine for the purposes set forth as these are matters Within the knowledge of those versed in the'art.

The invention herein resides in the improved strip feeding device and its arrangement with the other portionsof the multiple row ruffle sewing machine. It is obvious that the invention may-beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or the essential characteristics thereof. The disclosed embodiment is therefore to 'be taken as being illustrative of the principles and as not being definitive of the scope of the invention which it is intended willbe-manifest from the following claims, it being understood that all changes which'come within the meaning and range of equivaleney of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a sewing machine having a supporting arm for stitching mechanism, a main operating shaft therefor and feeding means; a rufliing attachment comprising an elongated housing structure of substantially coextensive length with the machine arm mounted at the base of the rear side of said arm, said housing structure at one end having a part extending downwardly and forwardly beneath the machine arm adjacent the stitching mechanism, a series of ruflier blades oscillatably mounted on the lower end of said housing part, actuating mechanism for said blades comprising a longitudinally disposed rock shaft horizontally mounted in said housing structure, means operatively connecting said main shaft and said rock shaft comprising an eccentric actuated pitman, a second rockshaft mounted in the lower end of said housing part on which said rufller blades are carried, and means connecting said rockshafts for operating said rufller blades; and auxiliary strip metering means mounted on said sewing machine and said housing and positioned in advance of the sewing machine feed means and the rufiling blades for feeding a series of strips to said blades and the stitching mechanism to form multiple rows of sewn ruflies, and actuating means for said strip metering means op- .eratively connected with the second rockshaft.

2. In combination with a multiple row sewing machine having stitching mechanism including a plurality of needles, feed mechanism and operating means for said mechanisms;,ruflie forming mechanism operated from said operating means comprising a rockshaft, a series of rufliing blades carried thereby, each of said blades being adapted to form a line or rufiies in conjunction with one of said needles and said feed mechanism; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding one of a plurality of fabric or lace strips from a plurality of strip supplies to each of said rufiiing blades regardless of tensions existing in each of said strips or its associated supply, comprising roller means positioned in advance of the milling blades and the feed mechanism and adapted to grip and feed said fabric strips in unison, and a drive connection between said rockshaft and said roller means for operating said roller means in synchronism with the movement of said blades.

3. In combination with a sewing machine having a plurality of stitchforming mechanisms, feed mechanism and operating means for said mechanisms; multiple row rufiie forming mechanism cooperating with said stitchforming mechanisms and the feed mechanism, comprising a rockshaft driven from said operating means and a series of rufiling blades carried by said rockshaft; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding fabric or lace strips to said ruflling blades and said stitchforming and feed mechanisms, comprising a pair of coacting rollers positioned in advance of the milling blades adapted to grip and feed said strips in unison, one of said rollers being pivotally mounted and adapted to be swung on an arc upwardly out of engagement with the other of said rollers, and a drive connection between said rockshaft and said rollers for operating said rollers in synchronism with the movement of said blades.

4. In combination with a sewing machine having a plurality of stitchforming mechanisms, feed mechanism and operating means for said mechanisms; multiple row rufiie forming mechanism cooperating with said stitchforming mechanisms and the feed mechanism, comprising a rockshaft driven from said operating means and a series of ruffiing blades carried by said rockshaft; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding fabric or lace strips to said rufiling blades and said stitchforming and feed mechanisms, comprising a pair of coacting rollers positioned in advance of the ruffling blades adapted to grip and feed said strips in unison, one of said rollers being pivotally mounted and adapted to be swung on an arc upwardly out of engagement with the other of said rollers, a drive connection between said rockshaft and said rollers for operating said rollers in synchronism with the movement of said blades, and adjustable means for fixing the amount of movement of said rollers on each rutlling stroke of said blades.

5. In combination with a sewing machine having a plurality of stitchforming mechanisms, feed mechanisms and operating means for said mechanisms; multiple row rufile forming mechanism cooperating with said stitchforming mechanisms and the feed mechanism, comprising a rockshaft driven from said operating means and a series of ruflling blades carried by said rockshaft; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding fabric or lace strips to said ruflling blades and said stitchforming and feed mechanisms, comprising a pair of coacting rollers positioned in advance of the rufliing blades adapted to grip and feed said strips in unison, one of said rollers being pivotally mounted to be brought into and maintained in engagement with the other by gravity, and a dri e connection between said rockshaft and said rollers for operating said rollers in synchronism with the movement of said blades.

6. In combination with a sewing machine having a plurality of stitchforming mechanisms, feed mechanism and operating means for said mechanisms, multiple row ruffle forming mechanism cooperating with said stitchforming mechanisms and the feed mechanism, comprising a rockshaft driven from said operating means and a series of milling blades carried by said rockshaft; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding fabric or lace strips to said rufliing blades and said stitchforming and feed mechanisms, comprising roller means positioned in advance of the rufiiing blades and the feed mechanism and adapted to feed said strips in unison, and means keyed to each ruffiing stroke for intermittently actuating said roller means to move a selected amount for each reciprocation of said blades, including a step-by-step ratcheting mechanism connecting said rock shaft and the roller actuating means.

7. In combination with a sewing machine having a plurality of stitchforming mechanisms, feed mechanism and operating means for said mechanisms; multiple row ruffie forming mechanism cooperating with said stitchforming mechanisms and the feed mechanism, comprising a rockshaft driven from said operating means and a series of rufliing blades carried by said rockshaft; and auxiliary means for uniformly feeding fabric or lace strips to said rufiling blades and said stitchforming and feed mechanisms, comprising a horizontally disposed serrated roller positioned in advance of the milling blades and the feed mechanism, a pair of support brackets, a shaft rotatably supported between said brackets, a pair of spaced plates pivotally mounted on said shaft, a second shaft rotatably supported between said plates, a second roller pivotally mounted on said second shaft, said second roller, shaft and plates being adapted to be swung upwardly about the first shaft to disengage said second roller from the serrated roller, and a drive connection between said rockshaft and said rollers for operating said rollers in synchronism with the movement of said blades.

8. A multiple row ruflie sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism, feed mechanism and operating means therefor, said sewing machine having a needle guide head provided with an access opening at one side thereof; a ruflier mechanism mounted on said sewing machine and comprising a housing having a part extending downwardly and alongside of said guide head, a rockshaft rotatably supported in said housing part, drive means therefor, and a series of rufliing blades carried by said rockshaft; a support plate adapted to fit over and close off said access opening in the guide head, said support plate being provided with means for supporting a bracket, a bracket secured to said support plate, a second bracket supported by said housing part, a pair of horizontally disposed shafts mounted between said brack- 9. A multiple row ruffle sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism, feed mechanism and operating -means therefor, said sewing machine having a guide head; a miller mechanism mounted on said sewing machine ;comprising a housing having a part extending downwardly and alongside of said guide head a rockshaft rotatably supported in said housing part and drive means therefor, and a series of rufiiing blades carried by said rockshaft; a lever mounted on one end of said rockshaft Eextending diametrically across the axis thereof, a pair ,of brackets supported respectively by said guide head and the housing part, a shaft rotatably supported bejtween said brackets, a roller carried by said shaft, and a drive connection between said lever, and theroller shaft -,including a one-way, step-by-step ratcheting mechanism ,fcr intermittently rotating said roller shaft in one direc- Ttion in synchronism with each movement of said blades.

10. A multiple row ruflle sewingmaehineqhaving stitchforming mechanism, feed mechanism and operating means therefor, said sewing machine having a guide head; a :rufiier mechanism mounted on said sewing machine comprising a housing having a part extending downwardly and alongside of said guide head, a rockshaft'rotatably supported in said housing part and drive means therefor, and a series of ,rufliing blades carried by said .rockshaft; a slotted lever mounted on one end of said rockshaft ex- -tending diametrically across the axis thereof, a block adjustably fixed in said slot, apair of brackets supported respectively by said guide head and the housing part, a

shaft rotatably supported between'said brackets, a roller carried by said shaft, and a drive connection between said block and the roller shaft including a one-way, step-bystep ratcheting mechanism forintermittently rotating said roller shaft in one direction in synchronism with each movement of said blades.

11. A multiple row rufiie sewingmachine having stitchforming mechanism and operating means therefor, said guide head and the housing part, a shaft rotatably supportedv between said brackets, a roller carried by said 12 insaid housing part and drive means therefor, and a series of rufliing blades carried by said rockshaft; a member carried by said rockshaft, said memberbeing disposed 'diametricallyacross the axis of said rockshaft, a second member fixed on said first member at a selected distance from the center of rotation of said rockshaft, and means for adjusting the fixed position of said second member on the first member to change the' amount ofmotion transmitted from said first member as the rock shaft oscillates, apair of brackets supported respectively by said shaft, and a drive connection betweensaid first member -and the roller shaft including a one-way, step-by-step ratcheting mechanism for intermittently rotating said roller shaft in one direction in ,synchronism with each rnovement of said blades.

"and alongside of said guide head, a rockshaft rotatably supported in said housingpart and drive means therefor,

supports for a roller shaft, a roller shaft and a roller and a series of rufiiing blades carried by said rockshaft;

attached to said shaft rotatablymounted in said supports, a slotted lever fixed to one end of said rock shaft with the slot therein extending diametrically across the axis of the rock shaft, a block fixed in said slot at a selected distance from the center of rotation of said rock shaft,

shaft a predetermined amount for :eachstroke of said slotted lever comprising a one-way clutch connected to said roller shaft adapted to move said roller-shaft in one direction on actuation of said clutch and a self aligning connection between said clutch and said block.

'References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,893,336 Chinnici -Q July 7, 1959 

